Before his Make-A-Wish^® experience, 18-year-old Anthony dreamed of deep-sea fishing, snorkeling in a spectacular lagoon and relaxing on the beach. Adding fuel to the fire were stories from Anthony’s dad about growing up in Hawaii. When volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Northern West Virginia talked to Anthony about his greatest wish, he knew he wanted to go to Hawaii to experience the Aloha State for himself. UAW-GM shared Anthony’s enthusiasm and sponsored his wish. Harry Green Chevrolet also hosted a send-off luau filled with tiki torches, grass skirts, leis and catered food.

With parents Troy and Dianne and brothers Mike, 20, and Kurtis, 13, the recent high-school grad set off for a one-week stay in Waikiki, Hawaii. The family had a packed itinerary and delighted in each days' activities. Among the highlights were visiting the Aloha Flea Market, exploring the sandy beaches of the North Shore, driving to the Pali Lookout for a view of Honolulu’s rain forest, and attending Germaine’s Luau, where they enjoyed oceanside entertainment with Polynesian-style dancing and food.

The group also checked out the cliff divers at Waimea Falls Park and took a deep-sea fishing excursion aboard the Blue Nun. Unfortunately, the fish were not biting that morning, and as a family member noted in the itinerary, “Wish we would have caught something.” On a brighter note, the family agreed that the best part of the trip was snorkeling at Oahu’s Hanauma Bay.

When their adventure was through, Anthony’s parents wrote to the Northern West Virginia chapter with appreciation and reflection: “When you granted Anthony’s wish to go to Hawaii, you blessed our family with a very special time together full of fun and laughter. After all a cancer patient goes through, as well as their family members, it’s a wonderful, refreshing, and bonding time that is truly needed.”